<p>UK defence minister Ben Wallace said Thursday that a Russian fighter jet last month released a missile close to a British military plane carrying out a patrol over the Black Sea.</p>.<p>Wallace told parliament that the "potentially dangerous" incident on September 29 involved an unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint plane, a type of aircraft used for reconnaissance, flying in international airspace.</p>.<p>The Black Sea borders southern Ukraine and areas annexed by Russia such as Crimea.</p>.<p>The British plane was "interacted with" by two Russian Sukhoi SU-27 fighter jets "one of which released a missile in the vicinity" but "beyond visual range," Wallace added.</p>.<p>While it was "not unusual for aircraft to be shadowed", the minister said he had flagged "concerns" over the firing of the missile in a letter to Moscow counterpart Sergei Shoigu and Russia's military chief of staff Valery Gerasimov.</p>.<p>He stressed the plane was unarmed and following a pre-notified flight path, adding that he felt it was "prudent" to suspend these patrols until a response was received.</p>.<p>The Russian side, in their response, blamed a "technical malfunction", while acknowledging the incident took place in international airspace, the minister said.</p>.<p>Wallace announced that after consultation with allies, "I have restarted routine patrols, but this time escorted by fighter aircraft."</p>.<p>Russia this month blamed a technical malfunction for a Sukhoi military plane crashing into a residential building near Ukraine.</p>
<p>UK defence minister Ben Wallace said Thursday that a Russian fighter jet last month released a missile close to a British military plane carrying out a patrol over the Black Sea.</p>.<p>Wallace told parliament that the "potentially dangerous" incident on September 29 involved an unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint plane, a type of aircraft used for reconnaissance, flying in international airspace.</p>.<p>The Black Sea borders southern Ukraine and areas annexed by Russia such as Crimea.</p>.<p>The British plane was "interacted with" by two Russian Sukhoi SU-27 fighter jets "one of which released a missile in the vicinity" but "beyond visual range," Wallace added.</p>.<p>While it was "not unusual for aircraft to be shadowed", the minister said he had flagged "concerns" over the firing of the missile in a letter to Moscow counterpart Sergei Shoigu and Russia's military chief of staff Valery Gerasimov.</p>.<p>He stressed the plane was unarmed and following a pre-notified flight path, adding that he felt it was "prudent" to suspend these patrols until a response was received.</p>.<p>The Russian side, in their response, blamed a "technical malfunction", while acknowledging the incident took place in international airspace, the minister said.</p>.<p>Wallace announced that after consultation with allies, "I have restarted routine patrols, but this time escorted by fighter aircraft."</p>.<p>Russia this month blamed a technical malfunction for a Sukhoi military plane crashing into a residential building near Ukraine.</p>